Civil Engineering: Job Outlook
Civil engineering isn’t just a rewarding career path—it’s also secure, with plenty of room to grow. In fact, the BLS expects the field of civil engineering to expand around 7% between 2021 and 2031, with more than 24,000 new jobs available each year.
Best of all, civil engineers are needed nationwide. Anywhere you find roads, tunnels, and airports, you’ll find work in civil engineering.
Other Civil Engineering Jobs (with Salaries)
Of course, a civil engineering degree opens the door to working as a civil engineer. But the skills you’ll learn in college can also translate to other roles, many of which frequently interact with civil engineers.
With your civil engineering degree, you can apply for other rewarding, high-paying jobs, such as:
- Surveyor – Surveyors split their time between the office and the field, measuring and marking property lines. On average, surveyors make $61,600/year according to the BLS.
- Environmental Engineer – These engineers exist in the intersection between the environment and infrastructure, improving waste disposal and water management systems. The average annual salary in this field is $96,820 according to the BLS.
- Urban Planner – Urban and regional planners analyze data to develop community land use plans, earning an average salary of $78,500 per year according to the BLS.
Begin Your Civil Engineering Career on the Right Foot
Your success as a professional engineer begins with your choice of college. Even in your early stages of applying to colleges, it’s vital to think several years into the future to maximize your earning potential.
Some schools offer accelerated pathways to a master’s degree in civil engineering. For example, at North Central College, you can take upper-level courses while pursuing your undergraduate degree. Through a partnership program with the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Armour College of Engineering, you can learn the foundations of engineering at North Central College before specializing in civil engineering in your graduate program.
Apply today—you can walk away with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in as little as five years.
Jacob Imm is a communications specialist in the North Central College Office of Marketing and Communications. He has 11 years of collegiate communications experience and has worked with hundreds of college students. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University.
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, September 8). Civil Engineers: Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineers.htm.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, March 31). Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020: 17-2051 Civil Engineers. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172051.htm#st.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, March 31). Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020: 17-2051 Civil Engineers. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172051.htm#st.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, September 8). Architectural and Engineering Managers: Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/architectural-and-engineering-managers.htm.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, March 31). Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020: 17-2051 Civil Engineers. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172051.htm#st.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, September 8). Civil Engineers: Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/civil-engineers.htm.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, September 8). Surveyors: Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/surveyors.htm.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, September 8). Environmental Engineers: Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/environmental-engineers.htm.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021, September 8). Urban and Regional Planners: Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved January 5, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/urban-and-regional-planners.htm.
